In Vitro Effect of n-Hexane Extract of Gongronema latifolium Leaves on Oxidants’- Induced Assault and Activities of delta Amino levulinic Acid Dehydratase and purinergic Enzymes in Hepatic and Cerebral Tissues of Wistar Rats

Gongronema latifolium is a medicinal plant with numerous benefits. Several studies have linked these medicinal actions to the presence of some bioactive compounds in the plant. The present study sought to investigate the effect of nhexane extracts of leaves of G. latifolium on sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and quinolinic acid (QA)-induced lipid peroxidation as well as its modulatory effect on the activities of delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ- ALAD) and purinergic enzymes [5'-nucleotidase and nucleoside triphosphate dihydrolase (NTPDase)]. The results showed that the extracts markedly (P< 0.05) inhibited both SNP and QA-induced lipid peroxidation in a concentration dependent manner. In addition, the extracts caused a non-significant (P< 0.05) increase in the activity of δ-ALAD when compared with the control. Finally, the results of purinergic enzymes' assays revealed that the extract exhibited significant (P< 0.05) inhibition of NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities in the rat tissues with increasing concentration. In any case, it is rational to suggest that G. latifolium could be an ideal intervention in the management of radical related degenerative diseases and in search of a promising novel purinergic targeting drugs.